Variation of gamma ray attenuation parameters for Poly vinyl alcohol reinforced by lead acetate

Abstract

Design types of shielding polymers to protect patients and personnel from the effect of scattered radiation during radiotherapy. Some shielding factors were calculated such as mass attenuation coefficient (µm), half value layer (HVL), effected atomic number (Zeff ) and heaviness for polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as matrix material mixed with various levels of lead acetate (10 - 50 wt. % ) as reinforced materials at photon interactions in the wide gamma ray energy range of 0.001-100 MeV using XCOM program and measured at 0.662 MeV by usage a 137Cs radioactive source. The experimentally obtained values were generally in good agreement with the theoretical ones. The results revealed that the shielding properties of poly vinyl alcohol increased with the addition of lead acetate. Gamma ray shielding properties of our polymer samples have been compared with standard ordinary concrete. It was found that 20wt.% of lead acetate (CH3COO)2Pb is the minimum percent mixed with PVA improves the gamma ray shielding properties best than standard ordinary concrete (NIST).